End cap for paper cores



A. L. REAGLES nap CAP FOR PAraEn coREs Filed April 1, 1932 INVENTOR arm/e L. Eegy/es. BY

ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 3, 1933 END CAP FOR PAPER CORES Annie L. Reagles, Corinth, N. Y., assignor to Elixman Paper. Core 00. Inc., Corinth, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application April 1, 1932. Serial No. 602,459

This invention relates to cores for paper rolls, and its object is to provide a new and improved end cap for such cores. In its preferred'form,

, my new end cap consists of a one-piece member of sheet metal formed with a driving slot of novel structure and having integral spring spurs which automatically lock the cap to the core. The driving slot is formedby so cutting the metal as to provide a pair of U-shaped flanges which are turned inward to produce a wall for engaging a suitable driving. member. The locking spurs are preferably formed on the inner sleeve of the cap, this sleeve being as long as or longer than the outer sleeve. The end of the paper core fits tightly between the two sleeves and the spurs bite into the core when the cap is mounted thereon.

The novel features and practical advantages of my invention will be understood from a description of the accompanying drawing in which- Fig. 1 shows a perspective of my new end cap; Figs. 2, 3 and 4 are fragmentary views illustrating the successive steps in the formation of the driving slot; and

Fig. 5 is an axial cross-section of the cap in position on the core, the section through the cap being approximately on line 5-5 of Fig. 1.

The cap consists of a one-piece member of sheet metal (such as steel) having an outer sleeve I 10 and an inner sleeve 12, between which the end a 13 of a tubular core 14 is received in a tight fit, as shown in Fig. 5. The inner sleeve 12 is preferably longer than the outer sleeve 10 and is provided with integral spurs 15, which are slightly displaced outwardly and point toward the front end of the cap. Consequently, when the cap is driven home on the core, the spurs 15 press against the inner wall of the tubular core 14 and bite into the core sufficiently to lock the cap against axial V displacement. Since the cap is formed of sheet steel or other resilient metal; the spurs 15 are naturally springy and permit the cap to be driven into place on the core, yet prevent the cap from being withdrawn. This'will be clear by looking at Fig. 5. No separate fastening means are therefore necessary to hold the cap in place.

The integral web 16, which forms the closed outer end of the cap, is provided with an axial slot 17 of novel structure and formation. The method of forming this slot is easily followed by looking at Figs. 2, 3 and 4. First, a rectangular hole 18 is cut in the web 16 as shown in Fig. 2. Then, two aligned U-shaped slots 19 are cut in sleeves 10 and 12 on both sides of hole 18, but of less width than the length of the hole. This will be clear from Fig. 3. The metal around the slots 19 is then- 3 Claims. (Cl. 242-68) bent approximately along the imaginary U- shaped lines at 20, and the flanges 21 thus formed are turned inward to form in effect a substantially closed wall, as indicated in Fig. 4. In other words, the U-shaped flanges 21 are in effect a continuation of the annularweb 16. In this way the slot 17 has a. metal wall adapted to receive a suitable driving lug. The central line 22 in the finished slot 17 indicates the division between the turned-in flanges 21, but I do not mean that the edges of the flanges 21 must actually touch along the line 22. 7 On the contrary, in the actual device the inner edges of the turned-in flanges 21 are sligthly separated, and the width of this separation may vary. However, for all practical purposes, the turned-in flanges 21 form a protecting metal wall integral with the cap to engage a driving member in sufficiently broad bearing contact, By means of appropriate machinery the slot 17 can be formed in a singleoperation. Although I have described the cutting of the rectangular hole 18 in web 16 as the first step in making the slot, it is evident that the step illustrated in Fig. 3 may be applied first.

It will be clear from the above description that I have provided an exceedingly simpleend cap for paper cores, one that is cheap to manufacture and easily mounted in position on the core. The locking spurs 15 and the novel structure of driving slot 17 need not essentially be embodied in the same cap, for I may use either feature without the other, although preferably I employ both in the same device. Changes and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. An end cap for tubular'cores, comprising a one-piece member of sheet metal having a pair of spaced sleeves between which the end of a core is received in a tight fit, a web connecting the outer end of the sleeves, the metal of said web and sleeves being shaped to provide a pair of substantially U-shaped flanges turned inwardly to form a driving slot with a bearing wall, which is in effect an indented and longitudinally slotted continuation of said web, the two flanges forming said U-shaped wall being separate lips on said spaced sleeves and each flange being bent laterally as a unit.

2. In the manufacture of end caps of sheet metal for tubular cores, said caps being of the double-sleeve type with an annular web forming the outer end, the method of forming a driving slot in the outer end of the cap, which comprises metal for tubular cores, said caps being of the double-sleeve type with an annular web forming the outer end, the method of forming a driving slot in the outer end of the cap, which comprises forming a pair of U-shaped lips or flanges on said sleeves, and in a single operation turning said lips laterally toward each other to form a U-shaped wall which defines a driving slot.

ANNIE L. REAGLES. 

